Münster. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz used the presentation of the International Westphalian Peace Prize to NATO for a policy speech on European security and support for Ukraine. He directly linked Kyiv's fate to Germany's resilience: "If we waver in Germany, Europe will waver. If Europe wavers, Ukraine will waver too."
According to the chancellor, peace and freedom in Europe are now under threat from "Russia's violent, expansionist revisionism." Merz emphasized that the war in Ukraine is not a distant conflict but a challenge to the entire European security system, including Germany.
He warned: if Moscow is not stopped, "the Russian military machine will sooner or later turn against us, against NATO itself." Among the scenarios, Merz mentioned a drone war over the Baltics modeled on Donbas and ballistic missile strikes on major European cities. "We must not close our eyes to this danger," he said.
The chancellor also stated that Germany is preparing for further hybrid attacks from Russia — including serious ones. At the same time, he rejected the argument that helping Ukraine harms Germans' prosperity: support for Kyiv, he said, protects the freedom and security of people in Germany itself.
Separately, Merz spoke out against internal division. He called for not succumbing to either Moscow's hybrid provocations or "the slogans of the AfD and its Russian handlers." The coming months, the chancellor stressed, will be decisive for Ukraine's fate and Europe's security; the continent's gaze is now particularly directed at Berlin.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte accepted the award on behalf of the Alliance. He thanked the organizers for the honor and emphasized that Ukraine must continue to be supported. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to "intimidate and provoke, but he will not succeed," Rutte said.
The Westphalian Peace Prize totals 100,000 euros; it is usually awarded every two years for contributions to peace and Europe's independence. The monetary portion of the award for NATO will be directed to a charitable organization in Ukraine — a signal that European solidarity also has a practical dimension for people living with the consequences of war.
For the Ukrainian community in Germany, Merz's speech is important as a political signal: Berlin publicly confirms that stable assistance to Kyiv is part of its own security strategy, not a "foreign" war. This course largely determines how long Europe will be able to contain further escalation and new waves of forced displacement.